I have noticed that the pandemic and otherworldy insanity have dramatically changed my reading habits. As a lifelong non-fiction book reader, I have always been kind of snobby about reading way more business stuff than fiction or memoir. That has changed dramatically. I read twice as many fiction books in 2021 as non-fiction. And, I find I am choosier about the non-fiction that I do finish. I am not sure if this is due to having worked so hard on my own book this last few years or if it is because life is too short to read anything that is not highly useful. I also find myself being way less snobby about the kind of fiction that I read. For example, I have never enjoyed mystery or suspense, and now I love it. And I am not ashamed to say that I am enjoying the more formulaic fiction and romance stuff like Nora Roberts’s work. Apparently, I enjoy being transported to Dublin or India for some romance and intrigue. And maybe you will too.

Non-fiction and biography

LinkedIn Makeover: Professional Secrets to a Powerful LinkedIn Profile by Donna Serdula

• Excellent read for anyone in the business world. 

Switchers: by Dr. Dawn Graham

• If you want to switch career tracks, this book is a must.

Persuade With a Story!: How to Attract Clients and Customers With Heroic Storytelling by Henry DeVries

• Entrepreneurs and content writers will love this quick, useful book.

The Motive: by Patrick M. Lencioni

• Now one of my favorite Lencioni fables. CEO focused and excellent. 

Untamed: by Glennon Doyle 

• Excellent. An emotional guidebook for women and anyone with an LGBTQ person in their lives, which is everyone.

 The Science of Getting Rich: by Wallace D. Wattles

• Terrible. What was I thinking?

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski PhD, Amelia Nagoski

• Sorry, not very helpful beyond defining the problem. I much prefer the next one on this list.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: by Eileen McDargh

• A very useful and practical guide to avoiding burnout.

Leadership and the One Minute Manager: by Ken Blanchard

• I had forgotten how useful this book is for leaders.

The Millennial Whisperer: by Chris Tuff

• Excellent and must-read for anyone managing in this era. 

The High Five Habit: by Mel Robbins

• Very good foundational motivation practices.

Effortless: by Greg Mckeown

• Excellent as is all of his work. My fav is still Essentialism. 

The Enneagram: Nine Gateways to Presence by Russ Hudson

• Audible only. This was like taking a master class from the Enneagram master. Loved it.

Life is in the Transitions: by Bruce Feiler

• Brilliant combo of research and life lessons.

Fiction/Escape:

The Husband’s Secret: by Liane Moriarty

• Riveting!

The First Wife: by Jill Childs

• This one sneaks up on you. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: by Alma Cuervo

• Loved it.

Normal People: by Sally Rooney

• Well written. Not my cup of tea. 

Tears of the Moon: by Nora Roberts

• Get transported to Ireland and enjoy every minute. 

Heart of the Sea: by Nora Roberts

• Part of the trilogy—fab!

Jewels of the Sun: by Nora Roberts

• Yep, loved it. 

That Summer: by Jennifer Weiner

• I am a fan of this writer, and this was a good one.

The Midnight Library: by Matt Haig

• Totally fresh read. Enjoyed this. 

Between Two Kingdoms: by Suleika Jaouad

• Memoir of the year for me. Wow!

Twilight: by Stephanie Meyer

• If the world is crumbling, I re-read Twilight. Don’t judge until you try it. 

The Scent Keeper: by Erica Bauermeister

• Sorry not that great. 

East of the Sun: by Julia Gregson

• My favorite kind of book—historical fiction. Loved this.

Let it Snow: by Nancy Thayer

• Too chaste for a beach read. Hello?

The Art of Inheriting Secrets: by Barbara O’Neal

• Oh-so-good. Now I am going to have to read everything she writes.

The Rules of Magic: by Alice Hoffman

• Loved this. Magic plus spells plus love and history. Yes. 

Northern Spy: by Flynn Berry

• Riveting. Going to have to buy more books by her. Yes. 

A Respectable Actress: by Dorothy Love

• Lovely piece of historical fiction with a bit of mystery. 

A Nantucket Wedding: by Nancy Thayer

• Loved it.

Origin: by Dan Brown 

• Very Good.

The Mists of Avalon: by Marion Zimmer Bradley

• I re-read this after 20 years. It did not disappoint. Still an all-time favorite. 

Anxious People: by Fredrik Backman

• Pretty good but not as good as A Man Called Ove. 

The Chicken Sisters: by KJ Dell’Antonia

• Contemporary beach read. 

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life: by Christie Tate

• If you like therapy books, this is a good one.